Uncanny X-Men #16Review

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Magneto strikes out on his own.

By Jesse Schedeen

Brian Bendis has promised big things for Magneto in 2014, and Uncanny X-Men #16 offers readers their first taste of what that entails. This is a largely solo issue as Magneto takes a field trip to Madripoor to find out what sort of mutant haven Mystique has been building. Along the way, Brian Bendis develops a clearer sense of what motivates Magneto currently and where his loyalties lay. If this is a prototype for Magneto's upcoming solo series, it certainly bodes well for that book.

Bendis paints Magneto as the complex figure he should be. Traces of the old, proud, Magneto remain, but there's also a sense of weariness and frustration at the world around him. The question of whether Magneto is loyal to the X-Men or S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes moot. He's portrayed as a man still haunted by the death of his oldest friend. He's disillusioned with everyone around him - humans and mutants, X-Men and Brotherhood alike. We see great rage lurking beneath the surface, but also a mutant forced to act and fight pragmatically because of his broken powers. And that leads to some fun action scenes reminiscent of Magneto's secret agent phase from X-Men: First Class.

Chris Bachalo pencils and colors this issue, with the usual assortment of inkers along for the ride. Just once I'd like to see Bachalo tackle a complete storyline with only one inker. His line-work and character designs become too inconsistent as a result. But still, he offers up some striking imagery and color work in this issue, and he finds various clever ways to visualize Magneto's powers.

It's almost disappointing that this issue ends with a caption instructing readers to follow Magneto into his own solo series, because it suggests that Bendis himself is bidding farewell to the character just as he rose to the forefront of the book. We can only hope Cullen Bunn can match the strong character work seen in this issue.